Cricket: Bates quells ND to secure Auckland's place in final

Auckland have their one chance this season to win a domestic title when they host the final of the national one-day championship next weekend.

They will play either Northern or Central Districts at Colin Maiden Park on Sunday.

They demolished ND - who had beaten them by three wickets four days earlier in Whangarei - in their semifinal on Saturday, but the losers get a second life courtesy of finishing second in the round robin.

ND were rolled for just 104, having found no way out from a parlous 44 for six.

Lively left-armer Michael Bates took three for eight off six overs - five of the runs being wides - putting him joint top wicket taker with 14 at 21.21 apiece.

There were grumbles about the state of the pitch, which Auckland captain Gareth Hopkins dismissed. His opener Reece Young hit an unbeaten 58 to steer Auckland to 108 for two in just 21 overs.

Hopkins conceded it was not one of the better strips this season, but said it hadn't been the worst.

Batsmen needed to use care as it lacked some pace, said Hopkins, who was delighted with the all-embracing nature of the win, singling one aspect out for special mention.

"Our fielding has improved a lot, not just the skills but the attitude and intensity," he said.

"I've felt at times during the season it's been lacking a bit, almost as if we needed to get ourselves in a hole before we start firing. Yesterday it came from ball one."

Victory would put some silverware on the Auckland shelf for this season. In the one remaining domestic competition after Sunday, their defence of the Plunket Shield is all but gone, the side pointless and bottom of the table with five rounds remaining.

In Christchurch, Mathew Sinclair's 105 not out steered CD to a comfortable six-wicket win over Canterbury.

Chasing Canterbury's 258 for eight, Sinclair and Brendan Diamanti, who hit 59 not out off 47 balls, added an unbroken 128 in 14.5 overs to shut the door on Canterbury's campaign. The win was achieved with 2.5 overs to spare.